The moment Shikaku finished speaking, Naruto's face lit up like the morning sun.
"Yay!"
He practically bounced out of his chair before hurrying over to sit beside Choji.
The two boys immediately leaned over the menu, their heads nearly touching as they enthusiastically debated the merits of every cut of meat.
"This one!"
"No, no! Beef tastes better!"
"But pork belly gets crispy!"
"That's why we should order both!"
Caught between the two energetic children, Shikamaru let out a long, helpless sigh.
"...What a drag."
Without another word, he quietly shifted half a seat away to avoid being squeezed into the middle of their increasingly animated discussion.
I couldn't help smiling.
The waiter soon brought over another chair, and I took the seat beside Naruto near the aisle.
A few moments later, two additional place settings were arranged on the table.
Akimichi Choza picked up the menu and ordered several more plates of meat before handing it to me with a warm smile.
"It's rare for everyone to gather together like this."
"So don't be shy."
"Order whatever you want."
"Thank you, Uncle Choza."
The charcoal fire beneath the grill gradually burned brighter.
Soon, thin slices of pork belly and beef tongue covered the iron grate.
The rich aroma spread almost immediately.
Fat dripped onto the glowing charcoal.
Tiny sparks danced upward.
The irresistible sizzling sound instantly captured everyone's attention.
Naruto and Choji each grabbed a pair of barbecue tongs with expressions of utmost seriousness.
To anyone else, they looked less like children preparing lunch...
...and more like elite shinobi carrying out an S-Rank operation.
"This one's ready!"
Naruto eagerly reached forward.
"Wait!"
Choji hurriedly stopped him.
"Not yet!"
"The edges haven't turned crispy!"
Naruto blinked.
"How do you know?"
"My dad taught me!"
Choji puffed out his chest proudly.
Across from them, Shikamaru rested his chin lazily in one hand while watching their heated debate.
"If you two keep arguing..."
"...the meat's going to burn."
"...Ah!"
The two boys shouted in perfect unison.
They lunged toward the grill simultaneously.
Unfortunately...
They both grabbed the exact same slice of pork belly.
"What are you doing?!"
"You grabbed mine!"
"I saw it first!"
"It was my turn!"
The restaurant filled with their noisy argument.
Choza chuckled good-naturedly before taking the tongs from both children.
"Watch carefully."
He demonstrated the perfect timing to flip the meat.
Naruto and Choji leaned forward with complete concentration, watching every movement as though witnessing some legendary family secret.
Even Shikamaru looked over for a brief moment.
Meanwhile...
Shikaku calmly sipped his tea.
Only after the children settled down again did his gaze shift toward me.
"It's been a few months."
"How have you been, Al?"
"I'm doing well."
"Just a little busy."
As I answered, I picked up a perfectly grilled slice of pork belly and placed it into Naruto's bowl.
He was still arguing with Choji over what should be grilled next.
Without even looking down, he instinctively picked it up with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth.
His cheeks immediately puffed out like an overstuffed hamster.
Choza laughed quietly.
Shikaku watched the scene before speaking again.
"When people live alone..."
"...they often forget to eat when they're busy."
His tone sounded casual.
His eyes, however...
Were carefully observing me.
"I occasionally skip meals."
"But working from home gives me a flexible schedule."
"So it isn't too serious."
"Working from home?"
Shikamaru's voice suddenly drifted over.
He hadn't even looked at me.
Still chewing his food, he casually asked,
"So..."
"What exactly do you do?"
I had barely opened my mouth to answer.
Naruto beat me to it.
"Big sister's a writer!"
His voice rang through the entire table.
Loud.
Clear.
Impossible to ignore.
...
My hand froze halfway through turning another slice of meat.
I could practically feel cold sweat forming on my forehead.
Naruto remained completely unaware.
He continued speaking proudly, as though he himself had become a famous author.
"Big sister's written lots of books!"
"She's amazing!"
"I haven't read them yet..."
"...but they're definitely sold in bookstores!"
The entire table became strangely quiet.
Shikamaru slowly lowered his chopsticks.
Then looked at me.
"...A writer."
His expression subtly changed.
It wasn't surprise.
More like...
Pieces quietly falling into place.
"It's nothing that impressive."
I forced an awkward smile.
"I just write a few novels to make a living."
"I'm not particularly famous."
"So..."
"It's a little embarrassing."
"I don't usually tell people."
"What kind of novels?"
Shikamaru asked again.
"...Popular fiction."
"Nothing special."
"What's your pen name?"
"Maybe I've heard of it."
...
Shikamaru.
What happened to finding everything troublesome?
Why are you suddenly asking so many questions today?
Could you please classify this conversation under the category of 'too troublesome' and stop asking?
Please?
I smiled stiffly.
"It's fairly niche."
"I doubt you've heard of it."
Before he could continue...
I quickly picked up a perfectly grilled slice of beef tongue.
"Here."
"This one's just right."
I placed it into his bowl.
Shikamaru glanced down.
Then looked back at me.
For several seconds...
Neither of us spoke.
Finally, he picked up the meat and quietly ate it.
He asked no further questions.
However...
As he chewed...
The corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.
It was almost impossible to notice.
Almost.
Seeing the conversation naturally come to an end...
I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
As expected.
Adults really knew when to stop asking.
Just as I was praising Shikaku in my heart...
He calmly picked up his teacup.
Then spoke in an even gentler tone.
"Since you've finished your work..."
"Come visit us this weekend."
"Yoshino's been asking about you."
"Ever since I mentioned seeing you."
"She keeps wondering whether you've forgotten all about her."
My smile stiffened.
"Of course not."
"I've just been—"
"There aren't any 'justs.'"
Shikaku interrupted me gently.
His voice remained relaxed.
But those sharp eyes stayed fixed on me.
The famous calm intelligence of the Nara Clan.
Direct.
Patient.
Impossible to fool.
"And..."
He shifted his attention toward Naruto.
"Bring Naruto with you."
Naruto stopped eating.
His chopsticks froze halfway to his mouth.
One sesame seed remained stuck near the corner of his lips.
He blinked.
Looked at Shikaku.
Then slowly turned toward me.
Inside those bright blue eyes...
Was unmistakable hesitation.
"...Can I come too?"
His voice had become unexpectedly quiet.
Shikaku nodded naturally.
"Of course."
The smile slowly returned to Naruto's face.
Yet...
He still didn't answer immediately.
Instead...
He looked at me.
Waiting.
Seeking permission.
I smiled and nodded.
"It's alright."
Only then did Naruto finally relax.
"Mm!"
"Thank you, Uncle!"
His grin was dazzling.
Bright enough to warm the entire table.
Shikamaru quietly picked up another slice of meat.
"My mom's cooking..."
"...is really good."
Shikaku raised an eyebrow toward his son.
Shikamaru calmly ate the meat.
His face remained completely expressionless.
As though he hadn't spoken at all.
The brief silence between father and son created the perfect opportunity.
Choji immediately reached over.
With astonishing speed...
He stole the freshly grilled beef tongue from Shikamaru's plate.
"..."
Shikamaru looked down.
Then silently reached out with his chopsticks.
Thus began another fierce battle.
"My meat."
"You weren't eating it."
"I was letting it cool."
"Now it's mine."
Choji grinned victoriously while desperately protecting the precious slice of meat.
Choza smiled helplessly.
"There are still three more plates waiting."
"No need to fight."
Naruto laughed so hard he nearly buried his face in his arms.
His shoulders shook continuously.
The warm atmosphere spread naturally throughout the table.
Everyone laughed.
Everyone smiled.
Only...
I quietly calculated something entirely different.
How...
Exactly...
Had I somehow agreed to visit the Nara household?
It wasn't because I disliked Uncle Shikaku.
Nor because I didn't want to see Aunt Yoshino.
Quite the opposite.
They were probably among the people in Konoha who cared about me the most.
That...
Was exactly the problem.
Because...
I wasn't actually the child they remembered.
Every memory they possessed...
Every shared childhood story...
Every warm recollection...
None of it truly belonged to me.
This world's rules had simply created those memories to accommodate my existence.
Like a flawless illusion.
A perfectly written program.
A fabricated history.
Every time I visited the Nara residence...
The same sequence always unfolded.
The moment I stepped through the door...
Aunt Yoshino would immediately pile food in front of me.
Within five minutes...
She would ask how I'd been.
Within ten...
She would sigh while looking at me with half concern and half reproach.
"You've gotten thinner again."
Then came the endless questions.
Have you been eating properly?
Are you sleeping enough?
Are you still working too hard?
Do you feel lonely living by yourself?
Why don't you visit more often?
Has something happened?
Every one of those questions...
Came from genuine kindness.
And every one of them...
Left me completely helpless.
Whenever they mentioned our so-called childhood together...
I always knew the truth.
Those memories never happened.
They belonged to someone who didn't exist.
Not me.
Each time...
A strange calculator automatically appeared inside my head.
How much kindness have they shown me?
How should I repay it?
Would fruit be enough?
Perhaps I should buy something expensive.
No...
That might feel too distant.
Should I visit more often?
Should I...
The calculations never stopped.
Eventually...
The debt became so enormous that it felt impossible to repay.
And then...
I wanted to run away.
But this time...
Shikaku hadn't given me that option.
He had invited Naruto as well.
He knew perfectly well...
If only I had been invited...
I would have produced countless excuses.
Too busy.
Still tired.
Next week.
Maybe another time.
There would always be another reason.
But...
Once Naruto became part of the invitation...
Everything changed.
Because I couldn't forget the look in Naruto's eyes just now.
That tiny, uncertain expression.
"Can I come too?"
It was exactly the same look he had worn when he once asked me,
"Big sister... can I come play at your house again sometime?"
I couldn't allow my own complicated feelings...
To become an obstacle preventing him from forming bonds with other people.
...
Uncle Shikaku.
You're definitely doing this on purpose.
I was slightly annoyed.
From today onward...
I officially decided...
I disliked smart people.
On the surface...
They looked lazy.
As though nothing interested them.
Yet behind that relaxed appearance...
Every single step had already been carefully calculated.
I picked up my teacup and absentmindedly took another sip.
Fine.
I'll go.
It's only dinner.
Besides...
Naruto looked unbelievably happy.
...
Wait.
If I'm visiting someone's house...
What gift am I supposed to bring?
Fruit?
Pastries?
Tea?
Should I greet Aunt Yoshino first?
Or Uncle Shikaku?
Do I compliment Shikamaru?
Would complimenting him make him roll his eyes?
How long should I stay before leaving?
Would staying too long be rude?
Leaving too early might also seem impolite.
Countless social calculations instantly filled my brain.
One after another.
Without stopping.
Completely absorbed in my own thoughts...
I absentmindedly lifted my teacup.
And took another sip.
...
Only then did I realize...
The cup had already been empty for quite some time.
Yet I had somehow taken three consecutive drinks from absolutely nothing.
The empty cup remained awkwardly pressed against my lips.
My entire body froze.
Across the table...
Shikamaru's gaze drifted toward me.
His eyes landed briefly on the empty teacup.
He paused.
Only for a second.
Then quietly looked away again.
His expression never changed.
But somehow...
I had the uncomfortable feeling...
That the smartest person at this table had just noticed far more than he let on.